MANILA, Philippines ? The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered the activation of emergency response teams in the villages to help stop the spread of the Influenza A(H1N1) virus.

The emergency teams will collate reports on people in their respective villages who have symptoms of A(H1N1) and will educate the community on the disease, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said in a memorandum.

?Local officials should take the lead in the conduct of a massive community information campaign to inform the public on the signs and symptoms of infection and measures to prevent the spread of the said A(H1N1) virus,? Puno said.

As of Tuesday, the Department of Health (DoH) confirmed 247 A(H1N1) cases in the country. Over the weekend, the World Health Organization said the spread of the disease has reached pandemic proportions.

As of June 10, the WHO reported 27,737 cases including 141 deaths.

Abigail Kwok